Yugoslavia's Defense Minister Pavle Bulatovic was assassinated Monday in Belgrade,the capital of the country, police said.

An unidentified attacker shot Yugoslavia's defense minister as he dined in a Belgrade restaurant Monday, killing the official and wounding two dinner companions, police said.

Defense Minister Pavle Bulatovic died at the Belgrade military hospital where he was taken after being shot in the dining area of the soccer club Rad, police said.

Montenegrin police said the gunman fired through a window of the restaurant, hitting Bulatovic; the restaurant's owner, Mirko Knezevic; and banker Vuk Obradovic from behind with automatic weapon fire.

The Yugoslav government, which met for an urgent session, said in a statement that Bulatovic ``was the victim of a classic terrorist act'' and pledged to fight against ``terrorism.''